The work of Golden-Oldies founder, Grenville Jones has been recognised in the 2009 City of Bath Mayor’s Citizen of the Year Awards.

The awards recognise individuals working in the community across the City and local people are invited to nominate the people they think should be acknowledged.

Grenville’s nominees were Cyril Watson and Margaret Fielding who are both regular Goldies at the Monday morning Blagdon Park singing session. This was the first session started by Grenville in January last year. It now has over 30 people who sing and smile to the hits of the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Both Cyril and Margaret attended the Mayor’s Parlour in the Guildhall yesterday (Tuesday 17th March) when Cyril read out his nomination. He said:

“Grenville and the Goldies have given so many elderly people something very special.

“There are so many of us who stay at home with little to look forward to. The Goldies has got us out of our homes and we all love the sessions so much.”

From the first Blagdon Park session in Bath there are now over 40 sessions across the West of England attracting between 50 and 60 people.

The Golden-Oldies Charity works with a number of organisations including Somer Housing, Merlin Housing, Mendip Housing, Mendip District Council, North Somerset Housing, South Somerset Homes and South Somerset District Council as well as Swindon Borough Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Goldies as it has become known has received international media coverage. It was featured on the BBC National News and TV crews from Canada and Germany have visited Bath to film Cyril, Margaret and friends raising the roof to Hi Ho Silver Lining.

Grenville’s work with the Golden-Oldies was also recognised in January by the Bath Chronicle when they named him Bath Man of 2008. This was not only for his work with the Charity but also for the success of his City of Bath Male Choir on the BBC’s popular Last Choir Standing series.

Aled Jones invited Grenville as guest on his Radio 3 programme, The Choir in September where he was keen to hear about the Golden-Oldies and Grenville’s growing reputation as being the man who gets people of all ages to sing.